By the time Coty Raven Morris was 12, she had attended six schools, lived with multiple families in two different states, and experienced the death of her mother and grandmother. Abuse and neglect were woven into the fabric of her life, adding to the complexities of her childhood.
At 32, Morris still struggles to make sense of an early life where home was a slew of apartments and guardians who were absent or sick. She remembers places where she fended for herself and covered for the behaviors of caregivers. Chaos was her framework. It wasn’t until high school that she found sanctuary through music, and realized not every child lived like her.
Guided by the security she found through school and song, Morris embraced a career of teaching music. As a second year master’s student in choral conducting at the MSU College of Music, she is committed to leading K-12 choirs and igniting dreams in every student regardless of circumstance.
For the full story, visit the College of Music.